Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - May 8
Date: May 8 19:59:12 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Bird Alert (250-491-7738), sponsored by The
Land Conservancy of BC.

Sightings for Saturday, May 8 - 8:00 PM update.

Featured birds include:

SAGE THRASHER (Ok Falls)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned include:

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bullock's Oriole
American Avocet
Northern Waterthrush
Clay-colored Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Lazuli Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Wilson's Phalarope
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper


Sightings for May 8

Two and maybe 3 SAGE THRASHERS continue to be found at White Lake in the
South Okanagan (RT,m.ob). From the Twin Lakes Rd intersection, continue S.
on White Lk for about .6 km. Park and listen for the birds on the E. side of
the road. Also at White Lake was a singing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (RT,m.ob).
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were also found at their traditional location on the
Vernon Commonage at Commonage Rd and Bench Row Road (CC,m.ob).

Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at the W. end of Rose's Pond on the Vernon
Commonage (CC,m.ob).

At Alki Lake in Kelowna the male EURASIAN WIGEON continues and 12 AMERICAN
AVOCETS were counted (CC).

In the South Okanagan, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was heard along the E. dyke of
the OK River, S. of Road 22 (RT,m.ob).

A male "myrtle" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was at the N. end of Duck Lake, in
Kelowna, on May 7 (JM).


Sightings for May 6

Two male SAGE THRASHERS appear to be on territory in the White Lake area
(CC,MF,ED,LN). From the Twin Lakes Rd turnoff drive S. on the White Lk Road
for 0.6 km. Listen for the birds on the W. side of the road. Please be
unobtrusive while viewing these very endangered birds.

Along the Twin Lakes Road approx. 2 km W. of White Lk Road was a singing
male LAZULI BUNTING (CC). LAZULI BUNTINGS were also found in the Kilpoola
area W. of Osoyoos (MF).

At the Okanagan Falls Campground BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and
YELLOW WARBLER were reported (CC).

In a late report for May 3, there were 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS at the UBC
Field Geology Camp on the Fairview White Lk Road (CG).


Sightings for May 5

At White Lake, near Okanagan Falls, a SAGE THRASHER was reported (NH). From
the intersection of White Lk Road and the Twin Lakes Road travel S. on White
Lk Road for approx a kilometer to where the road dips. The bird was singing
in the sagebrush between here and the lake.

In Westbank, a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was along the trail, close to the
parking area at Shannon Lake Regional Park (MF).

Robert Lake in Kelowna had 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and
at least 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (CC,RT). SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were also reported
at Shannon Lake Park (MF).

Four CEDAR WAXWINGS were along the boardwalk at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanct.
in Kelowna (CC,RT).

In a late report for May 1, a male EURASIAN WIGEON was at Alki Lake at the
Kelowna Landfill (RT).

---------------------------------------------------------


Observer Initials: MF - Mike Force; CC - Chris Charlesworth; RT - Ryan
Tomlinson; NH - Nathan Hentze; ED - Eva Durance; LN - Laure Neish; CG -
Carlo Giovanella; JM - James McGregor.

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Dick Cannings, in
Naramata, at (250) 496-4019, Chris Charlesworth in Kelowna (250) 718-0335,
or Phil Gehlen, in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC, Canada
V1X 2X5
(250) 718-0335
c_charlesworth at avocettours.com
www.avocettours.com

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